If you are unsure if you or a loved one require ambulance assistance, try asking the following questions:

Is the person’s condition life-threatening?

Could the person’s condition worsen and become life-threatening on the way to the hospital?

Could moving the person cause further injury?

Does the person need immediate medical attention?

Would distance or traffic conditions cause a harmful delay in getting the person to the hospital?

If the answer to any of these questions is "yes," or if you are unsure, call an ambulance. Paramedics and emergency medical responders are trained to begin medical treatment on the way to the hospital. This prevents any delay that could occur if the patient is driven to the emergency department.

When your call is answered, speak calmly and clearly. Give your name, the address, phone number, location of patient (such as upstairs in the bedroom) and nature of the problem. Don't hang up until the dispatcher tells you to. They may need additional information or need to give you instructions.

In cases such as heart attack and strokes, every minute counts. If you suspect a heart attack or stroke, call for an ambulance immediately.

Heart attack warning signs:

Chest discomfort, pressure, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest

Other upper body discomfort, including pain in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach